Pepper hybrid BS02828008

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.61/182,573, filed May 29, 2009, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and theinbred pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and theinbred pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254.

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a pepper plant of thehybrid designated BS02828008, the pepper line SMO28-1234 or pepper lineSMO28-1254. Also provided are pepper plants having all the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of such a plant. Parts of these pepperplants are also provided, for example, including pollen, an ovule,scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid BS02828008and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and/orpepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 is defined as comprising a singlelocus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, an addedgenetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and/orpepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254. The pepper seed of the inventionmay be provided as an essentially homogeneous population of pepper seedof pepper hybrid BS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 andSMO28-1254. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed are generallyfree from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, in oneembodiment of the invention, seed of hybrid BS02828008 and/or pepperlines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 may be defined as forming at least about97% of the total seed, including at least about 98%, 99% or more of theseed. The seed population may be separately grown to provide anessentially homogeneous population of pepper plants designatedBS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a pepper plant of hybrid BS02828008 and/or pepper linesSMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating pepper plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid BS02828008and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 include those traits setforth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissuecultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides pepperplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridBS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing pepper seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent pepper plant with a second parentpepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent pepperplants is a plant of pepper line SMO28-1234 or pepper line SMO28-1254.These processes may be further exemplified as processes for preparinghybrid pepper seed or plants, wherein a first pepper plant is crossedwith a second pepper plant of a different, distinct genotype to providea hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of pepper lineSMO28-1234 or pepper line SMO28-1254. In these processes, crossing willresult in the production of seed. The seed production occurs regardlessof whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent pepper plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent pepper plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent pepper plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent pepper plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a pepper plant or hybrid pepperplant.

The present invention also provides the pepper seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent pepper plant with asecond parent pepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent pepper plants is a plant of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and/orpepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254. In one embodiment of theinvention, pepper seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid pepper seed and plants produced by crossing aplant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridpepper plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid pepper plant and seedthereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid BS02828008 and/or pepper linesSMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid BS02828008 and/or pepperlines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid BS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234and SMO28-1254 with a second plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plantwith itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of asubsequent generation. In further embodiments, the method mayadditionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generationand crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself ora second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid BS02828008 and/orpepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254. The plant derived from hybridBS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 may be aninbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid BS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 isobtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of the line/hybridas well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of pepperhybrid BS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254, whereinthe plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting at leastone pepper from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofpepper hybrid BS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to theaggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequencesdefines the phenotype of, in the present case, a pepper plant, or a cellor tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents thegenetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides pepper plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the pepper plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid BS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234and SMO28-1254 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by pepper plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a pepper plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second pepper plant, preferably, another, distinctpepper plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pepperplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a plant of an hybridpepper that exhibits a combination of traits comprising a plant with asemi-spreading, semi-erect habit, with few (2-3) basal branches; anearly harvest of a large number of small, somewhat angular fruit thatmature from a medium-green to an orange color; a glossy fruit thattypically has three locules and produces about 180 seeds per fruit, hasa Brix content of about 9.7% and is suitable for fresh market sale; afruit that averages 8.2 cm long, 5.0 cm in diameter and weighs about 73g; a plant that appears resistant to Tobamovirus (P12) and Potato VirusY (PVY) (P0). In certain embodiments, the combination of traits may bedefined as controlled by genetic means for the expression of thecombination of traits found in pepper hybrid BS02828008.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method ofdetermining the genotype of a plant of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and/orpepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 comprising detecting in thegenome of the plant at least a first polymorphism. The method may, incertain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality of polymorphisms inthe genome of the plant. The method may further comprise storing theresults of the step of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on acomputer readable medium. The invention further provides a computerreadable medium produced by such a method.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of pepper hybrid BS02828008, pepper lineSMO28-1234 and pepper line SMO28-1254. The hybrid BS02828008 is producedby the cross of parent lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254. The parent linesshow uniformity and stability within the limits of environmentalinfluence. By crossing the parent lines, uniform seed of hybridBS02828008 can be obtained.

The development of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and its parent lines can besummarized as follows.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Pepper Hybrid BS02828008

The parents of hybrid BS02828008 are SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254. Theseparents were created as follows.

For parent SMO28-1234:

-   Summer, Year 1 The F1 hybrid was made from the parents 2000-2029    (stake 00F-339) and 2000-2058 (stake 00F-366) and assigned the    accession number 2000-6102.-   Winter, Year 2 Plants of the F1 hybrid 2000-6102 were transplanted    as stake 01S-2557. The hybrid produced small, blocky, yellow fruit.    Seeds of the selection, 01S-2557-3, received accession number    2001-3434.-   Summer, Year 2 Planted the F2 inbred line 2001-3434 as stake    01F-257. The hybrid developed a low vigor plant that segregated for    small, blocky, yellow and orange fruit. Fruits measured about 6.8 cm    long by 4.8 cm diameter, each weighed about 50 g and had a Brix of    9.0%. Seeds of the selection, 01F-257-14, tested resistant to    Tobamovirus (P012), and received accession number 2001-3549.-   Winter, Year 3 Planted the F3 inbred line 2001-3549 as stake    02S-273. The line produced a small and somewhat tapered orange    fruit. Fruits measured about 6.8 cm long by 4.2 cm diameter, each    weighed about 40 g and had a Brix of 11.3%. Seeds of the selection,    02S-273-18, tested for resistant to the Tobamovirus (P012) and to    PVY (P0), and received accession number 2002-1189.-   Summer, Year 3 Planted the F4 inbred line 2002-1189 as stake    02F-1400. The line produced small blocky and somewhat tapered orange    peppers. Fruits measured about 5.8 cm long by 4.6 cm diameter, each    weighed about 46 g and had a Brix of 10%. Seeds of the selection,    02F-1400-5, tested resistant to Tobamovirus (P012) and to PVY (P0),    and received accession number 2002-3020.-   Winter, Year 4 Planted the F5 inbred line 2002-3020 as stake 03S-85.    The line developed low vigor plants that produced small blocky and    somewhat tapered orange peppers. Fruits measured about 6 cm long by    4 cm diameter, each weighed about 36 g and had a Brix of 10.6%.    Seeds of the selection, 03S-85-1, tested resistant to Tobamovirus    (P012) and to PVY (P0), and received accession number 2003-2079.-   Spring, Year 4 Planted the F6 inbred line 2003-2079 as stake 03U-77.    The line developed low vigor but productive plants that produced    small, blocky, orange peppers. Fruits measured about 6 cm long by    4.2 cm diameter, each weighed about 48 g and had a Brix of 9.6%.    Seeds of the selection, 03U-77-10, tested resistant to Tobamovirus    (P012) and to PVY (P0), and received accession number 2003-3276.-   Winter, Year 4 Planted the F7 inbred line 2003-3276 as stake    03F-2077. The line developed small, blocky, orange peppers. Fruits    measured about 6 cm long by 4.2 cm diameter, each weighed about 39 g    and had a Brix of 9.9%. Seeds of the selection, 03F-2077-M, tested    resistant to Tobamovirus (P012) and to PVY (P0), and received    accession number 2003-4578.-   Summer, Year 4 Accession 2003-4578 was submitted as inbred line    SMO28-1234.

For parent SMO28-1254:

-   Summer, Year 1 The F1 hybrid was made from the parents 2000-2033    (stake 00F-343) and 2000-2058 (stake 00F-366) and assigned the    accession number 2000-6110.-   Winter, Year 2 Plants of the F1 hybrid 2000-6110 were transplanted    as stake 01S-2562. The hybrid produced small, blocky, red fruit.    Seeds of the selection, 01S-2562-4, received accession number    2001-3436.-   Summer, Year 2 Planted the F2 inbred line 2001-3436 as stake    01F-258. The line developed a compact plant that segregated for red    and orange fruit. Fruits measured about 7.4 cm long by 5.8 cm    diameter, weighed about 62 g, and had a Brix of 10.1%. Seeds of the    selection, 01F-258-19, tested resistant to TMV (P012), and received    accession number 2001-3556.-   Winter, Year 3 Planted the F3 inbred line 2001-3556 as stake    02S-276. The line produced small, blocky, orange fruit. Fruits    measured about 7.6 cm long by 6 cm diameter, weighed about 50 g, and    had a Brix of 10%. Seeds of the selection, 02S-276-5, tested    resistant to TMV (P012) and to PVY (P0), and received accession    number 2002-1190.-   Summer, Year 3 Planted the F4 inbred line 2002-1190 as stake    02F-1401. The line produced small, blocky, orange fruit. Fruits    measured about 7.6 cm long by 5.4 cm diameter, weighed about 75 g,    and had a Brix of 10.2%. Seeds of the selection, 02F-1401-6, tested    resistant to TMV (P012), and received accession number 2002-3022.-   Winter, Year 4 Planted the F5 inbred line 2002-3022 as stake 03F-87.    The line developed low vigor plants that produced small, blocky,    orange fruit. Fruits measured about 7 cm long by 6 cm diameter,    weighed about 85 g, and had a Brix of 9.6%. Seeds of the selection,    03F-87-6, tested resistant to TMV (P012), and received accession    number 2003-2081.-   Summer, Year 4 Planted the F6 inbred line 2003-2081 as stake 03U-79.    The line developed low vigor plants that produced small, blocky,    orange fruit. Fruits measured about 7 cm long by 5.6 cm diameter,    weighed about 71 g, and had a Brix of 9.3%. Seeds of the selection,    03U-79-4, tested resistant to TMV (P012) and to PVY (P0), and    received accession number 2003-3278.-   Winter, Year 5 Planted the F7 inbred line 2003-3278 as stake    04S-109. The line developed low vigor plants that produced small,    blocky, orange fruit. Fruits measured about 6.6 cm long by 6.6 cm    diameter, weighed about 85 g, and had a Brix of 10.3%. Seeds of the    selection, 04S-109-5, tested for resistant to TMV(P012) and to    PVY(P0), received accession number 2004-1049.-   Summer, Year 5 Planted the F8 inbred line 2004-1049 as stake    04F-1803. The line developed compact plants that produced small,    blocky, orange fruit. Fruits measured about 6.2 cm long by 5.4 cm    diameter, weighed about 56 g, and had a Brix of 10.2%. Seeds of the    selection, 04F-1803-M, tested resistant to TMV (P012), received    accession number 2004-3047.-   Summer, Year 6 Accession 2004-3047 was submitted as inbred line    SMO28-1254.

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid therefrom. Asmall percentage of variants can occur within commercially acceptablelimits for almost any characteristic during the course of repeatedmultiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Pepper HybridBS02828008, Pepper Line SMO28-1234 and Pepper Line SMO28-1254

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-2.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of HybridBS02828008 Comparison CHARACTERISTIC BS02828008 Variety-Boogie 1.Species C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days fromtransplanting until mature 78 91 green stage days from transplantinguntil mature 115 127 red or yellow stage days from direct seeding untilmature 120 134 green stage days from direct seeding until mature 158 170red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit semi-spreading semi-spreadingattitude semi-upright/ semi-upright semi-erect (Clovis, Sonar) height115 cm 135 cm width 68 cm 60 cm length of stem from cotyledon to first30 cm 30 cm flower length of the third internode (from soil 100 mm 170mm surface) length of stem medium (Belsir, Lamuyo) shortened internode(in upper part) absent (California wonder, De Cayenne) for varietieswithout shortened medium (Dolmi, internodes: length of internode (onFlorian, Órias) primary side shoots) stem: hairiness of nodes absent orvery weak (Arlequin) height medium (HRF) basal branches few (2-3) (2-3)branch flexibility rigid (Yolo rigid Wonder) stem strength (breakageresistance) intermediate intermediate 4. Leaf length of blade medium(Atol, Blondy, Marconi, merit, Anthea) width of blade medium (Albaregia,Balaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) width 120 mm 140 mm length 330 mm 325mm petiole length 140 mm 100 mm color medium green medium green color(RHS Color Chart value) 136B 136A intensity of green color light(Piquant d'Algérie, Pusztagold) mature leaf shape ovate (Balico, ovateSonar) leaf and stem pubescence absent absent undulation of margin veryweak very weak blistering absent (Century, very weak Recio, Solfiane)profile in cross section flat (De Cayenne, Recio) glossiness weak (DeCayenne, Doux très long des Landes) peduncle attitude drooping (Heldor,Lamuyo) 5. Flower number of flowers per leaf axil 1 1 calyx lobes 6 6petals 6 6 size diameter 22 mm 25 mm corolla color white white corollathroat markings none anther color purple purple style length same asstamen same as stamen self-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruit groupMini blocky Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (before maturity) green(California wonder, Lamuyo) intensity of color (before maturity) lightimmature fruit color medium green medium green immature fruit color (RHSColor Chart 139A N134A value) attitude/position drooping/pendentdrooping (De Cayenne, Lamuyo) length short (Delphin, Petit carré doux)diameter narrow (Doux très long des Landes) ratio length/diameter medium(Adra, Cherry Sweet, Daniel, Delphin, Edino) calyx diameter 27 mm 38 mmfruit length 82 mm 76 mm diameter at calyx attachment 64 mm 84 mmdiameter at mid-point 50 mm 80 mm flesh thickness at mid-point 5 mm 7 mmaverage number of fruits per plant 34 18 average fruit weight 91 gm 174gm shape in longitudinal section narrowly triangular square (De Cayenne,Demon) shape in cross section (at level of angular/triangular circularplacenta) (Vinedale) sinuation of pericarp at basal part medium (Duna,Banán) sinuation of pericarp excluding basal medium (Ursus) part textureof surface smooth or very smooth slightly wrinkled (Milord) color (atmaturity) orange (Ariane) intensity of color (at maturity) dark maturefruit color orange orange mature fruit color (RHS Color Chart 28A 28Avalue) glossiness weak (Doux très weak long des Landes) stalk cavityabsent (Corinto, Corno di toro, Sweet fbanana, Sucette de Provence)depth of stalk cavity shallow (Delphin, Doux italien, Fehér, Latino)pedicel length 40 mm 50 mm pedicel thickness 5 mm 15 mm pedicel shapecurved curved pedicel cavity absent present depth of pedicel cavity 3 mm8 mm stalk: length short (Surpas, yolo Wonder, Zenith) stalk: thicknessthin (Sweet banana) base shape cupped cupped shape of apex moderatelyvery depressed depressed (Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shape Mini blocky Bell(Yolo Wonder L.) set scattered scattered depth of interloculary groovesshallow (Milord, medium Topgirl) number of locules predominantly three(Century) % fruits with one locule 0 0 % fruits with two locules 25 0 %fruits with three locules 50 80 % fruits with four locules 25 20 %fruits with five or more locules 0 0 thickness of flesh medium (Fehér,Lamuyo) calyx: aspect non-enveloping/ non-enveloping/ saucer-shapedsaucer-shaped (Lamuyo, Sonar) pungency sweet capsaicin in placentaabsent (Sonar) flavor strong pepper mild flavor glossiness moderate dull7. Seed seed cavity length 55 mm 47 mm seed cavity diameter 40 mm 62 mmplacenta length 20 mm 25 mm number of seeds per fruit 180 150 grams per1000 seeds 7.9 gm seed color yellow yellow 8. Seedling anthocyanincoloration of stem moderate moderate anthocyanin coloration of nodesmoderate moderate stem: intensity of anthocyanin medium (Clovis,coloration of nodes Lamuyo, Sonar) plant: anthocyanin coloration of leafmoderate weak plant: anthocyanin coloration of pedicel weak weak plant:anthocyanin coloration of calyx absent absent flower: anthocyanincoloration in present (Lamuyo) anther fruit: anthocyanin colorationabsent (Lamuyo) weak beginning of flowering (1^(st) flower on early(Carré doux 2^(nd) flowering node) extra hâtif, Cupido, Fehér, Flaviano,Lito, Trophy) 9. Resistance to Tobamovirus Pathotype 0 present/mostpresent/most (Tobacco Mosaic Virus (0)) resistant (Lamuyo, resistantSonar, Yolo Wonder) to Tobamovirus Pathotype 1-2 (Pepper present(Delgado, Mosaic Virus (1-2)) Festos, Novi, Orion) to TobamovirusPathotype 1-2-3 absent/most absent/most (Pepper Mild Mottle Virus(1-2-3)) susceptible susceptible (Piperade, Yolo Wonder) to Curly TopVirus most susceptible most susceptible to Potato Virus Y (PVY) mostresistant most susceptible to PVY Pathotype 0 present (Yolo Y) to PVYPathotype 1 absent (Yolo Wonder, Yolo Y) to PVY Pathotype 1-2 absent(Florida VR2, Yolo Wonder, Yolo Y) to Tobacco Etch Virus mostsusceptible most susceptible to Phytophthora capsici absent/most mostsusceptible susceptible (Yolo Wonder) to Cucumber Mosiac Virus (CMV)absent/most most susceptible susceptible (Yolo Wonder) to Pepper SpottedWilt Virus (TSWV) absent (Yolo Wonder) to Xanthomonas campestris pv.absent/most most susceptible vesicatoria susceptible (Fehérözön, YoloWonder) to Anthracnose (Gloeosporium most susceptible most susceptiblepiperatum) to Cercospora Leaf Spot (Cercospors most susceptible mostsusceptible capsici) to Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita most susceptiblemost susceptible acrita) to Ripe Rot (Vermicularia capsici) mostsusceptible most susceptible to Southern Blight (Sclerotium rolfsii)most susceptible most susceptible to Verticillium Wilt (Verticilliummost susceptible most susceptible dahliae) *These are typical values.Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantiallyequivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of LineSMO28-1234 Comparison CHARACTERISTIC SMO28-1234 Variety-Boogie 1.Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability)days from transplanting until mature 45 50 green stage days fromtransplanting until mature 70 75 red or yellow stage days from directseeding until mature 80 85 green stage days from direct seeding untilmature 105 110 red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compact compactattitude prostrate (Delphin, prostrate (Delphin, Trophy) Trophy) height110 cm 130 cm width 50 cm 55 cm length of stem from cotyledon to first29 cm 24 cm flower length of the third internode (from soil 195 mm 130mm surface) length of stem short (Delphin, Trophy) shortened internode(in upper part) absent (California wonder, De Cayenne) for varietieswithout shortened short (Bandero, internodes: length of internode (onBlondy, Danubia, primary side shoots) Tenor) stem: hairiness of nodesabsent or very weak (Arlequin) height short (Albaregia) basal branchesfew (2-3) few (2-3) branch flexibility willowy (Cayenne willowy (CayenneLong Red) Long Red) stem strength (breakage resistance) intermediateintermediate 4. Leaf length of blade medium (Atol, Blondy, Marconi,Merit, Anthea) width of blade medium (Albaregia, Balaton, Danubia,Marconi, Merit) width 135 mm 140 mm length 215 mm 220 mm petiole length105 mm 95 mm color light green dark green color (RHS Color Chart value)137A 136A intensity of green color light (Piquant d'Algérie, Pusztagold)mature leaf shape ovate (Balico, broad elliptic Sonar) (Solario) leafand stem pubescence light light undulation of margin absent (De Cayenne)blistering absent (Century, Recio, Solfiane) profile in cross sectionstrongly concave (Slávy) glossiness very weak (Diavolo) peduncleattitude drooping (Heldor, Lamuyo) 5. Flower number flowers per leafaxil 1 1 calyx lobes 7 7 petals 6 7 size diameter 34 38 corolla colorwhite white anther color purple purple style length same as stamenexceeds stamen self-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruit group MiniPepper - Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Conical color (before maturity) green(California wonder, Lamuyo) intensity of color (before maturity) mediumimmature fruit color medium green dark green immature fruit color (RHSColor Chart 135A 139A value) attitude/position drooping/pendentdrooping/pendent (De Cayenne, (De Cayenne, Lamuyo) Lamuyo) length veryshort (Cherry Sweet, Topgirl) diameter narrow (Doux très long desLandes) ratio length/diameter medium (Adra, Cherry Sweet, Daniel,Delphin, Edino) calyx diameter 24 mm 32 mm fruit length 60 mm 72 mmdiameter at calyx attachment 44 mm 80 mm diameter at mid-point 40 mm 80mm flesh thickness at mid-point 6 mm 8 mm average number of fruits perplant 20 12 % large fruits 0 90 % medium fruits 0 10 % small fruits 1000 average fruit weight 42 g 206 g shape in longitudinal sectionmoderately cordate/heart- triangular (Fehér, shaped (Daniel) Marconi)shape in cross section (at level of angular/triangularangular/triangular placenta) (Vinedale) (Vinedale) sinuation of pericarpat basal part medium (Duna, Banán) sinuation of pericarp excluding basalweak (Clovis, part Sonar) texture of surface smooth or very smooth orvery slightly wrinkled slightly wrinkled (Milord) (Milord) color (atmaturity) orange (Ariane) intensity of color (at maturity) dark maturefruit color orange orange mature fruit color (RHS Color Chart 28A 28Avalue) glossiness strong (Doux medium/moderate italien, Trophy) (Carrédoux extra hâtif, Lamuyo, Sonar) stalk cavity present (Bingor, Lamuyo)depth of stalk cavity very shallow (Flush, Kaméleon, Niagara) pedicellength 40 mm 50 mm pedicel thickness 7 mm 12 mm pedicel shape curvedcurved pedicel cavity absent present depth of pedicel cavity 2 mm 4 mmstalk: length medium (Fehér, Sonar) stalk: thickness thin (Sweet banana)base shape cupped cupped shape of apex moderately blunt depressed(Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shape oblong (Jalapeno) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.)set scattered scattered depth of interloculary grooves medium (Clovis,deep (Majister, Lamuyo, Marconi) Surpas) number of locules predominantlythree (Century) % fruits with one locule 0 0 % fruits with two locules 20 % fruits with three locules 98 50 % fruits with four locules 0 45 %fruits with five or more locules 0 5 average number of locules 3 3.50thickness of flesh medium (Fehér, Lamuyo) calyx: aspect non-enveloping/non-enveloping/ saucer-shaped saucer-shaped (Lamuyo, Sonar) (Lamuyo,Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent (Sonar) flavorstrong pepper strong pepper flavor flavor glossiness shiny moderate 7.Seed seed cavity length 22 mm 45 mm seed cavity diameter 12 mm 17 mmplacenta length 14 mm 28 mm number of seeds per fruit 50 100 grams per1000 seeds 7.3 seed color yellow yellow 8. Seedling anthocyanincoloration of hypocotyl weak moderate anthocyanin coloration of stemweak moderate anthocyanin coloration of nodes moderate strong(California wonder) stem: intensity of anthocyanin medium (Clovis,coloration of nodes Lamuyo, Sonar) plant: anthocyanin coloration of leafweak weak plant: anthocyanin coloration of pedicel absent weak plant:anthocyanin coloration of calyx absent absent flower: anthocyanincoloration in present (Lamuyo) anther fruit: anthocyanin colorationabsent (Lamuyo) absent (Lamuyo) Time of maturity very early (Koral,Macska sárga, Madison) 9. Resistance to Tobamovirus Pathotype 0present/most present/most (Tobacco Mosaic Virus (0)) resistant (Lamuyo,resistant (Lamuyo, Sonar, Yolo Sonar, Yolo Wonder) Wonder) toTobamovirus Pathotype 1-2 (Pepper present (Delgado, Mosaic Virus (1-2))Festos, Novi, Orion) to Tobamovirus Pathotype 1-2-3 absent/mostabsent/most (Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (1-2-3)) susceptible susceptible(Piperade, Yolo (Piperade, Yolo Wonder) Wonder) to Curly Top Virus mostsusceptible most susceptible to Potato Virus Y (PVY) most resistant mostsusceptible to PVY Pathotype 0 present (Yolo Y) to PVY Pathotype 1absent (Yolo Wonder, Yolo Y) to PVY Pathotype 1-2 absent (Florida VR2,Yolo Wonder, Yolo Y) to Tobacco Etch Virus most susceptible mostsusceptible to Phytophthora capsici absent/most absent/most susceptible(Yolo susceptible (Yolo Wonder) Wonder) to Cucumber Mosiac Virus (CMV)absent/most absent/most susceptible (Yolo susceptible (Yolo Wonder)Wonder) to Pepper Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) absent (Yolo Wonder) toXanthomonas campestris pv. absent/most absent/most vesicatoriasusceptible susceptible (Fehérözön, Yolo (Fehérözön, Yolo Wonder)Wonder) to Anthracnose (Gloeosporium most susceptible most susceptiblepiperatum) to Cercospora Leaf Spot (Cercospors most susceptible mostsusceptible capsici) to Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita most susceptiblemost susceptible acrita) to Ripe Rot (Vermicularia capsici) mostsusceptible most susceptible to Southern Blight (Sclerotium rolfsii)most susceptible most susceptible to Verticillium Wilt (Verticilliummost susceptible most susceptible dahliae) *These are typical values.Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantiallyequivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Pepper Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof pepper hybrid BS02828008 involving crossing pepper lines SMO28-1234and SMO28-1254. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid BS02828008, line SMO28-1234, or line SMO28-1254 may be crossedwith itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used forpropagation of hybrid BS02828008 and/or the pepper lines SMO28-1234 andSMO28-1254, or can be used to produce plants that are derived fromhybrid BS02828008 and/or the pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254.Plants derived from hybrid BS02828008 and/or the pepper lines SMO28-1234and SMO28-1254 may be used, in certain embodiments, for the developmentof new pepper varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid BS02828008 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross withBS02828008 and/or pepper lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 for the purposeof developing novel pepper lines, it will typically be preferred tochoose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selecteddesirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s)when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirable traits may include, inspecific embodiments, high seed yield, high seed germination, seedlingvigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance or resistance, andadaptability for soil and climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits,such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and taste are other examples oftraits that may be incorporated into new lines of pepper plantsdeveloped by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid BS02828008 exhibits desirable agronomictraits. The performance characteristics of BS02828008, SMO28-1234 andSMO28-1254 were the subject of an objective analysis of the performancetraits relative to other varieties. The results of the analysis arepresented below.

TABLE 3 Performance Characteristics For BS02828008 Fruit size lengthTobamo virus Tobamo virus Potato Virus Y Antho- Fruit color at (cm) ×width Longitundinal Hybrid Source P0 resistance P1.2 resistance P0resistance cyaninless maturity (cm) section shape Locules BS02828008Seminis yes yes yes no dark 8.2 × 5.0 narrowly 3 orange triangular E499524 Enza yes no yes no light red 5 × 2 trapezoidal 2 or 3 Laden E499526 Enza yes no yes no light 4 × 2 trapezoidal 2 or 3 Laden yellow E499531 Enza yes no yes no medium 4 × 2 trapezoidal 2 or 3 Laden orangeFerrari Enza yes no dark red 7.6 × 3.6 rectangular 2 or 3 Laden DerbyDeRuiter no no orange- 8.8 × 7.0 square 3 yellow Boogie Rijk yes no noorange 7.6 × 8.0 square 3 Zwaan ABSA Seminis yes no yes no orange 9.4 ×4.0 narrowly 2 Orange triangular

TABLE 4 Performance Characteristics For SMO28-1234 Tobamo virus P0.1.2Potato Virus Y Fruit Fruit resistance P0 resistance diameter shapeSMO28-1234 Resistant Resistant 4.0 cm Oblong Boogie SusceptibleSusceptible 8.0 cm Blocky

TABLE 5 Performance Characteristics For SMO28-1254 Tobamo virus P0.1.2resistance Potato Virus Y P0 resistance SMO28-1254 Resistant ResistantBoogie Susceptible Susceptible

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those pepper plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalpepper plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental pepper plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pepper plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny pepper plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of pepper plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectorsfor Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangementof genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate theconstruction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide codinggenes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regionsflanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expressionof inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacteriumcontaining both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used fortransformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., 1985; Omirulleh et al., 1993; Fromm et al., 1986;Uchimiya et al., 1986; Marcotte et al., 1988). Transformation of plantsand expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(1994), and Ellul et al. (2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., 1985), including in monocots(see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, 1990); atandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35Spromoter (P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., 1988);the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., 1989); and the figwortmosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promotersequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem; the cauliflower mosaic virus19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter; a commelina yellowmottle virus promoter; and other plant DNA virus promoters known toexpress in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., 1988), (2)light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., 1989; maize rbcSpromoter, Schaffner and Sheen, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding proteinpromoter, Simpson et al., 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid(Marcotte et al., 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al.,1989); or (5) chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, orSafener. It may also be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters(e.g., Roshal et al., 1987; Schernthaner et al., 1988; Bustos et al.,1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a pepper plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a pepper plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (i.e., aribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (seefor example, Gibson and Shillito, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces aprotein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change ofinterest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a peppervariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a pepper plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of pepper hybrid BS02828008 and inbred parent lines SMO28-1234and SMO28-1254, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has been madewith the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 UniversityBlvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposit was May 26, 2009.The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of pepper hybridBS02828008 and inbred parent lines SMO28-1234 and SMO28-1254 are ATCCAccession Number PTA-10069, ATCC Accession Number PTA-10074, and ATCCAccession Number PTA-10075, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits areintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. Thedeposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary duringthat period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplaryprocedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, arespecifically incorporated herein by reference:

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What is claimed is:
 1. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of pepper line SMO28-1254, a sample of seed of said linehaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-10075.
 2. A pepperseed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of pepper lineSMO28-1254, a sample of seed of said line having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-10075.
 3. The pepper plant of claim 1, whichis an inbred.
 4. The pepper plant of claim 1, which is a hybrid.
 5. Thepepper plant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is pepper hybridBS02828008, a sample of seed of said hybrid BS02828008 having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-10069.
 6. The plant of claim1, wherein the plant is a plant of pepper line SMO28-1254.
 7. A plantpart of the pepper plant of claim
 1. 8. The plant part of claim 7,further defined as a leaf, a ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 9. Apepper plant having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the pepper plant of claim
 5. 10. A pepper planthaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of thepepper plant of claim
 6. 11. A tissue culture of regenerable cells ofthe pepper plant of claim
 1. 12. The tissue culture according to claim11, comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from thegroup consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves,anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 13. A pepperplant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 12, wherein saidplant has all the physiological and morphological characteristics of thepepper plant comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes ofpepper line SMO28-1254, a sample of seed of said line having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-10075.
 14. A method ofvegetatively propagating the pepper plant of claim 1 comprising thesteps of: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from apepper plant according to claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtainproliferated shoots; and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtainrooted plantlets.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising growingat least a first pepper plant from said rooted plantlets.
 16. A methodof introducing a desired trait into a pepper line, comprising: (a)utilizing as a recurrent parent a plant of pepper line SMO28-1254, bycrossing a plant of pepper line SMO28-1254 with a second donor pepperplant that comprises a desired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample ofseed of said line having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-10075; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises the desired trait;(c) backcrossing the selected F1 progeny with a plant of the same pepperline used as the recurrent parent in step (a), to produce backcrossprogeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired traitand the physiological and morphological characteristics of the recurrentparent pepper line used in step (a); and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d)three or more times to produce selected fourth or higher backcrossprogeny that comprise the desired trait, and otherwise compriseessentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristicsof the recurrent parent pepper line used in step (a).
 17. A pepper plantproduced by the method of claim
 16. 18. A method of producing a pepperplant comprising an added trait, the method comprising introducing atransgene conferring the trait into a plant of pepper hybrid BS02828008or pepper line SMO28-1254, a sample of seed of said hybrid and linehaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-10069 and ATCCAccession Number PTA-10075 respectively.
 19. A pepper plant produced bythe method of claim
 18. 20. A method of determining the genotype of theplant of claim 1 comprising obtaining a sample of nucleic acids fromsaid plant and detecting in said nucleic acids a plurality ofpolymorphisms.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the stepof storing the results of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on acomputer readable medium.
 22. The plant of claim 1, further comprising atransgene.
 23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the transgene confers atrait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance,modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 24. The plantof claim 1, further comprising a single locus conversion, wherein theplant otherwise comprises essentially all of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of the plant comprising at least a firstset of the chromosomes of pepper line SMO28-1254, a sample of seed ofsaid line having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-10075.25. The plant of claim 24, wherein the single locus conversion confers atrait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicidetolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance,modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 26. A methodfor producing a seed of a pepper plant derived from at least one ofpepper hybrid BS02828008 or pepper line SMO28-1254 comprising the stepsof: (a) crossing a pepper plant of hybrid BS02828008 or line SMO28-1254with itself or a second pepper plant; a sample of seed of said hybridand line having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-10069 andATCC Accession Number PTA-10075, respectively; and (b) allowing seed ofa hybrid BS02828008 or line SMO28-1254-derived pepper plant to form. 27.The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of: (c) selfing apepper plant grown from said hybrid BS02828008 or lineSMO28-1254-derived pepper seed to yield additional hybrid BS02828008 orline SMO28-1254-derived pepper seed; (d) growing said additional hybridBS02828008 or line SMO28-1254-derived pepper seed of step (c) to yieldadditional hybrid BS02828008 or line SMO28-1254-derived pepper plants;and (e) repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) togenerate at least a first further hybrid BS02828008 or lineSMO28-1254-derived pepper plant.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein thesecond pepper plant is of an inbred pepper line.
 29. The method of claim26, comprising crossing line SMO28-1234 with line SMO28-1254, a sampleof seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-10074, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-10075, respectively.
 30. Themethod of claim 27, further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybridBS02828008 or line SMO28-1254-derived pepper plant with a second pepperplant to produce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 31. A hybrid pepperseed produced by the method of claim
 29. 32. A pepper plant produced bygrowing the seed of claim
 31. 33. A plant part of the pepper plant ofclaim
 32. 34. The plant part of claim 33, further defined as a leaf, aflower, a fruit, an ovule, pollen, or a cell.
 35. A method of producinga pepper seed comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or asecond pepper plant and allowing seed to form.
 36. A method of producinga pepper fruit comprising: (a) obtaining a plant according to claim 1,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting apepper from the plant.